Shift Workers Face Increased Stroke Severity Risk: Study

New research published in the journal _Endocrinology further illustrates the already well-documented health risks of shift work, with the latest study -- c_o-authored by Dr. David Earnest of the Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics at Texas A&M -- indicating that such work might increase stroke severity. In addition, it seems that men are at higher risk for women when it some to this increased risk.

Previous research has shown that shift work -- generally defined as work outside of the typical "9-to-5" pattern of most employees -- often interferes with the 24-hour circadian cycle controlled by the human body's internal biological clock. Around 15 million Americans engage in shift work, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"This research has clear implications for shift workers with odd schedules," Dr. Earnest noted, "but probably extends to many of us who keep schedules that differ greatly from day to day, especially from weekdays to weekends."